ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division has consented to the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Rs 10 billion plan for improvement of the city’s decades old waterlines and sewerage system.

The CDA Water Supply Directorate had submitted the plan to the Cabinet Division last month after having it approved by the authority’s board.

The CDA now requires the Planning Commission’s (PC) approval for formal execution of the plan, it’s learnt.

A CDA official told Daily Times on Monday that the PC-1 of the project would be submitted to the PC within the next one to two days for approval.

He said the PC was likely to approve the plan ‘before long’ in view of the growing water and sewage problem.

The official said a firm of international standard would be hired for the work to be done without digging technology.

He said work on the waterline upgrades would get underway before the end of current year on the basis of Engineering Planning and Construction (EPC) and complete in 2012. He said besides waterlines, the sewerage system would be upgraded.

The official said failure to replace decades old waterlines would worsen water shortage in the city in the days ahead. He said waterline upgrades would ensure smooth supply of water to existing and new residential sectors and commercial centres.

He also said the CDA had planned to introduce meter system in the city to control massive water losses. He said in the absence of meter system, misuse of water was huge.

He said once the new system was in place, water would be supplied in the city round the clock. The official said every year, the CDA lost Rs 900 million due to waste of water either by people or due to faulty waterlines.